Calling all Mobilian Myth Busters!

Hello Mobilian Myth Busters!

It’s time to bust some known (or unknown) automotive myths. We’re here to find and deliver the truth!

it’s time to bust those pesky automotive myths!

Here at Air Mobile we believe in the truth! That can mean many things to different people, but we pride ourselves in honesty and letting our customers know exactly what needs to get fixed and how much it will cost- even if you decide to not go through with our services. That being said, today’s blog is going to be about Myth Busting! And guess what? We’re here to bust myths and let our readers know the truth.

The Internet. It’s amazing -no, astonishing because all of the worlds information is just at the tips of your fingers…but that also means there is a lot of misinformation as well. That’s why I’ve decided to debunk some Auto Maintenance myths for you all. You can thank me later!

Myth #1: You Should Probably Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles.

I’m sure at one point everyone from your Grandpa to your service technician told you that you need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. This is you breaking that industry standard.

Oil doesn’t need to be changed every 3000 miles. This myth? Busted!

The majority of automakers today are saying you can change your oil at either 7,500 or 10,000 miles. Obviously I’d still check with your individual owner’s manual to see what they recommend. So, why should you wait that long? First of all, you’re spending dollars that you don’t have to on oil changes…which makes your dealership or local technicians very happy. Secondly, you’re wasting oil, and contributing to the growing problem of how to recycle all the used oil that is irreparably damaging the environment, and nobody’s got time for that!

Here are just some of the reasons that make it possible for longer oil change intervals:

Improved oils that protect engines from wear and heat.

Tighter tolerances (the gap between metal moving parts) of modern, high tech engines.

The introduction of oil life monitoring system that notify the driver when an oil change is required.

More automakers using synthetic oil.

Myth #2: Independent repair shops are always more expensive than dealer service repairs.

While this may be partly true, for some Auto body shops, it’s not true for all of them. Especially us here at Air Mobile. We are here to give you honest answers to your car troubles, what needs to be serviced, and how much that service will cost. But a dealership? Well, they’re in it for the money.

see the blonde? She knows that dealerships spread this myth to deter customers from local repair shops. Shame on them!

They have higher monthly expenses that ultimately result in higher prices for services that your local shop might not charge for. Let’s start with the diagnosis, shall we? Most high end dealerships will cost you about 50-100 dollars or more depending on how intricate their diagnostics need to go. Why the high charge? Well, that’s an easy answer- incase you don’t go through with the service, the time they spent on your car is covered, payed for. Haven’t you heard the expression, “There’s no free lunch?”.

Should you opt to have the repair done after it’s been diagnosed there is usually some labor overlap involved. Overlap meaning that if you came in with a brake concern then, in most cases, the wheels are already removed from the vehicle as part of the diagnosis. You should not be charged the full labor time to replace the brakes because some of the labor has already been done. The labor time most local technicians will charge for a brake job has removing the wheels and inspecting the brakes already built in. While most dealerships double dip by charging you diagnostics and full labor on the brake job.

More often than not, dealerships charge more per service hour. The industry standard is 88.00, that’s pretty reasonable, espically if someone is getting dirty and taking apart your car to fix the problem. But dealerships? They can charge you anywhere from 90 to 125 per hour! That’s freaking crazy! Why so much? Obviously they need to pair their technicians accordingly, and to save themselves, high end dealerships charge a higher labor rate just because they can. I mean, you’re essentially paying for the name.

This used to be the case, when automatic transmissions were relatively new.

But recent advances in the technology (like the continuously variable transmission, which offers an infinite range of gear ratios) eliminates the advantage of manuals, and in some cases puts automatics ahead. That being said, you can find a car with great gas mileage that’s a manual…it just sorta depends on you as well.

Drivers play a big part in whether your car gets good gas mileage or not. If your a break presser or even a lead foot- you could be contributing to higher fuel economy. Shame on you!!

Myth #4: If regular-grade fuel is good, premium must be better.

This is an expensive mistake. Most vehicles run fine on regular-grade fuel (87 octane). Filling these cars with premium won’t cause damage, but it won’t improve performance, either. Higher-octane fuels are less likely to create pre-ignition problems, so they’re usually used in hotter-running, high-compression engines.

what side is it on?!?!?!

So if you’re driving a little Honda with a 4 cylinder engine…it’s fine to use either grade fuel, but you’ll be just fine paying for the regular. So will your pockets!

Myth #5: Warm up your car for several minutes before driving.

We’ve all been told that warming up your car before you drive is better for your engine and gets the car ready to drive…uh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware that a car needed to be ‘ready to drive’. My car isn’t a diva, and I’m going to assume your’s isn’t either.

well, I take that back Mrs. Diva car…

That’s Outdated advice. Driving the car is the fastest way to warm up a modern engine, and the sooner it warms up, the sooner it delivers the best mileage and performance. And don’t rev the engine during the first few miles…that’s just annoying everyone in and out of your neighborhood.

Myth #6: Having Work Performed at an Independent Shop will Void the New Car Warranty

Having an independent shop perform work on your vehicle will not void the warranty. It’s actually illegal for a car manufacturer to deny a warranty claim on the grounds that work was performed at an independent shop. Now obviously the shop has to be registered with the state, and work was performed to a professional standard. In some cases, work you’ve done yourself can be used in a warranty claim, like an oil change, if you’ve kept receipts for the oil and filter, with the date and vehicle mileage.

Let Air Mobile work on your baby. We’ll take care of her.

But don’t let this silly myth deter you from going to your local shop. Most often than not, we’re cheaper than the dealership and corporate repair shops…and we’re nicer too.

So there you have it Myth Busters! I hope this article sheds some light on your ever demanding needs as car people and Mobilians- btw, that’s what I’m going to call you from now on. Get used to it.